TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Kansas health officials delayed a new Medicaid service a day before it was scheduled to begin because it did not have enough contractors to cover the entire state.

The ``health home'' service was to provide case management for people with chronic medical conditions and those with severe mental illness.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment notified service providers Monday that the part of the program for the chronically ill would be delayed. It was to begin enrolling patients on Tuesday.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports the service for the mentally ill will continue.

Health department spokeswoman Sara Belfry says federal rules require the state to offer at least two providers before it can participate in the program, and Kansas did not have enough providers to meet that requirement.

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